GILROY
– At first glance, 47-year-old Brenda Hockeborne looks like the
typical mom. Her blond-streaked red hair is cut short and kept out
of the way, and she constantly moves around her house, shifting
piles of magazines and laundry.
GILROY – At first glance, 47-year-old Brenda Hockeborne looks like the typical mom. Her blond-streaked red hair is cut short and kept out of the way, and she constantly moves around her house, shifting piles of magazines and laundry. However, this mom has an unusual hobby: she spends her weekends and vacations kayaking.
“I always wanted to try it,” said Hockeborne, who took up the sport about three years ago. “It seemed very serene and very physical, but calming.”
To date, she’s only paddled around lakes and reservoirs, but wants to become certified so she can kayak in the ocean.
In fact, Hockeborne’s favorite place to paddle is Elkhorne Slough, a bird sanctuary in Moss Landing, near Monterey. The slough runs into the ocean, and several types of sea life often make their way into the slough. She says that on her first time there, the jellyfish happened to be migrating.
“The whole water was thousands and thousands of jellyfish,” she said. “My friend wanted to upend the boat and go in the water, and I said ‘Oh, no you’re not!’ ”
When Hockeborne kayaks, she always goes with her friend, Julie Silva, and her dog, Gilroy.
“I ask him if he wants to go kayaking and he gets all excited,” she said.
Gilroy is a small, long-haired mutt with irregular black and white splotches. He often is perched on the front of her kayak in a bright yellow life jacket.
Born in Massachusetts, Hockeborne has lived in the same house in Gilroy for the past 15 years with her husband, Allen, and her daughter, Amber. In addition to kayaking, she maintains a large vegetable garden in her backyard and works at Chef’s Choice in Fremont.
“My daughter thinks my kayaking is hokey,” Hockeborne said, laughing. “I just like the idea of being outdoors … and kayaking seemed like the best way to do that.”
